Ncaa regionals rule changes

[foilwatcher]

I just became aware of this, so if this has come up before, just shut me down, and please direct me to the proper thread.

NE Region has changed the qualification allowance from max 3 fencers per weapon (18 per school) to 5 per weapon (24 max per school).

There are 2 sides to this decision.

Fencing is one of the few sports where the individual national championship (and all season, obviously) mixes divisions...no separation between Div I and Div III. The reasons for this are obvious. Numer of schools fencing is relatively small, so its the only way to broaden the field.

However, if one accepts the fact that Div I schools have deeper squads (4 or 5 qualifying for regionals is not a problem), the net effert is to saturate the event with Div I fencers, to the detriment of Div III fencers.

You might say that is only fair, that the best fencers should be the ones who get to fence in the tournament. However, the new requirement to "fence-off" at the beginning of the day for the bottom 17 spots in the usual pool of 35, you will obviously see less Div III fencers with the ability to "enter" the tournament (the pool of 35).

The problem here is that the Div III fencers, many who work hard all season, and care a great deal about their fencing HAVE NO OTHER PLACE TO GO. They work all season to have a crack at "the big boys", and maybe make the top 10. If you conducted separate Division championships this new system would be fine. Let the Div III fencers go do their own thing. However, that is NOT the case. So these Div III fencers, who might have made up 1/3 of the starting field (I don't know if that number is correct), now make up 1/5 (again, just a guess).

They get stamped out in the pre-round, after 4 or 5 5-touch bouts, and never have a chance to go up against the broader field.

Does anyone else see this modification as inherently unfair? I can tell you when announced to one Div III team, it has been severely demoralizing. These kids work all year to get into this tournament, and are now going to be drowned by disproportionate Div I entrants.

[KidLazy]

I don't fence NCAA, I don't know anything about its rules, I just have few questions and one opinion.

So, Before, there were just Group A(Div1) +Group C(Div3).
Now, Group A +Group B (Div1 but not Group A) + Group C.

The problem here is that the Div III fencers, many who work hard all season, and care a great deal about their fencing HAVE NO OTHER PLACE TO GO.

Does Group B work hard all season and care a great deal about their fencing? I don't know, but I am very sure they do not have any place to go before the change... since it was just A+C.

So these Div III fencers, who might have made up 1/3 of the starting field (I don't know if that number is correct), now make up 1/5 (again, just a guess).

They get stamped out in the pre-round, after 4 or 5 5-touch bouts, and never have a chance to go up against the broader field.

If a person from Group C can't beat people from Group B, then does he/she really have a chance before? Since it was just A+C.

If a person from Group C has no problem take care of people from Group A, then why would he/she cares about the addition of Group B? He/she is still capable of beating them.

I can tell you when announced to one Div III team, it has been severely demoralizing. These kids work all year to get into this tournament, and are now going to be drowned by disproportionate Div I entrants.

If the thought of facing more tougher opponents is "severely demoralizing," then they do not belong to this sport.

[prototoast]

I really don't see this as being that big a deal, other than making the whole thing take a little longer.

[dcrocket]

Div I versus Div III in fencing is not the same as Div I versus Div III in football.

[Mr.MightyMouse]

I really don't see this as being that big a deal, other than making the whole thing take a little longer.

ditto

Personally I do not see "demoralization" from "expanded participation" as being a "fair standardization".

The complaint would be akin to an extremely hypothetical scenario of fencer from, let's say, Senegal going to Olympics thinking there would be 32 participants, only finding out that there will be 64.
Is his "demoralization" worth the "joy" of 32 additional fencers finding out that they have become Olympians?
If you're correct and additional 6 fencers can be entered per each school, have not those aforementioned 6 work hard all season, and care a great deal about their fencing HAVE NO OTHER PLACE TO GO , just like the D3 entrants do?

In the words of Antonio's nemesis, and former ally :
"If you prick us do we not bleed?
If you tickle us do we not laugh?
If you poison us do we not die?
And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?"

[kapunga]

Div I versus Div III in fencing is not the same as Div I versus Div III in football.

You ain't kidding. My school's football team had a hard time beating high school prep teams. My schools fencing team placed in the top 10 or 15 at NCAA nationals at least once or twice while I was there.

[epeemike81]

I really don't see this as being that big a deal, other than making the whole thing take a little longer.

This.

Each school can still only qualify a max of 2 to nationals.

-m